Predicting who can prosper in the Championship is a foolish business. For now we can say that in an open, attacking contest these sides made a fair case for why they will feature in the shake-up come May.

This was already the third match in each club's quest to emerge from the 46-game Championship marathon with automatic promotion or a play-off berth.

"Who knows?" said Sean O'Driscoll, the Nottingham Forest manager, when asked if his side and Bolton would be at the business end in spring. "This is the Championship. We could both be in the relegation zone – it's that close and tight. [The game] ended up being a five a-side with 22 players on the pitch."

O'Driscoll fielded six of his eight summer signings: Greg Halford, Danny Collins and Dan Harding were the three new members of his defence, while Simon Cox, Simon Gillett and Adlène Guedioura patrolled the midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Two of Forest's old guard created their opener. On 15 minutes, Dexter Blackstock, the lone striker, dropped deep to collect the ball, then flipped it on to Lewis McGugan. He took a couple of steps infield before letting fly a 30-yard humdinger that gave Adam Bogdan no chance and pinged in off the bar. This had Forest wags singing, not untruthfully: "We're top of the league".

Bolton, who had a defeat and win from their initial two outings of the season, against Forest's victory and draw, enjoyed their best moments from the flanks. Greg Halford came close to scoring an own goal with his head via Chris Eagles' cross from the left. The winger enjoyed the half's last word: Kevin Davies' header rebounded from Lee Camp's left post and he converted coolly.

It was Marvin Sordell who had the first shout of the second period. Within moments, Davies outmuscled the hapless Halford and played the ball to his partner, whose finish beat Lee Camp courtesy of a post. Sordell should then have had a second goal but his close-range effort was blasted over.

Bolton would regret that miss within minutes as Blackstock's header was moved on by Cox and Andy Reid's surge from midfield ended in the equaliser.

Davies's right foot let him down from six yards as the game entered its closing quarter, then Cox was as culpable as he missed a header near the post.

For Owen Coyle, there was "frustration" at the manner of Forest's second goal and his own side's spurned chances.